Activity Two: Field Study

Location: Rocky Run, a Brandywine River Tributary
Question: What is the relationship between steam velocity and changes in stream elevation/slope?

Hypothesis: As the elevation/slope of the stream increases the velocity of the stream increases.

Procedure: A member of the group used 5 meters of string and a fishing bobber to measure the amount of time it took the bobber to travel 5 meter in the center of the stream.

Start area: 0.5 miles upstream from the mouth of the tributary
Velocity = distance / time
Slope or Gradient = Height 1 – Height 2 /Distance
data_tabel_1_revised.jpgexternal image moz-screenshot.jpg

Data_tables_2_and_3_revised.jpg




Graph the trial time data. Remember to label and title the graph. Include units. Use a different color for each trial.





Calculate the following:
Average Time for each location: Remember units.
table_for_calculations.jpg




Analyze the data.

Question 1
Compare the slope/gradient to the average velocity. What observation can you make?
In areas with the greater slope or gradient the velocity of the water was greater.


Question 2
Was the hypothesis correct? Why or why not?
The experiment hypothesis was correct. Take any reasonable answer for why.